Improvement in preserving and packing compounds for eggs, wood



The wood will also absorb less paint than or- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES OONNELL, JR, OF COLLINGWOOD, CANADA, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND WILLIAM OONNELL, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT .IN PRESERVING AND PACKING COMPOUNDS FOR EGGS, WOOD, Ktc.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 139,116, dated May 20, 1873 application filed April 26, 1873.

N atzwe and Objects of the Invention.

The subject-matter of this invention is a composition of matter termed Oarbureted Alumen. The article, as prepared for the market, is a dry powder, which is mixed with water, and thus used as a preserving-bath or fluid packing, or for steaming or saturating wood or other porous substances, or for impregnating packing-material, as hereinafter set forth. As applied to such articles as eggs, the material acts as a cooling and antiseptic agent. As applied to wood, it renders the same nearly fire-proof; also, rot-proof and weather-proof; also, petroleum-proof, for oil barrels, casks, and tanks. It also lessens the liability of wood to swell, warp, or shrink.

dinary wood. Boiled with petroleum-tar, it renders wood for paving purposes proof against rotting or decay.

General Description.

In carrying out this invention a dry powder, termed Oarbureted Alumen, is compounded as follows: Ground alum, ninety parts; white sugar, two parts; salt, two parts; Glenfield starch, two parts; charcoal, two parts, and carbonate of iron, two parts; making a composition of one hundred parts. The relative proportions may be slightly varied without essential difference in the results. To each pound of this mixture about twenty times its weight of water is added; or, as used in small quantities, a tea-spoonful of the powder may be mixed in a gallon of water. The insolubility of the carbonate of iron and charcoal does not interfere with their use, as the chemical mixture is sufficient. To preserve such articles as eggs, fruit, and butter, they may be placed in tubs, barrels, jars, or other ves-,

sels that will not leak, and covered with the fluid; or the fluid may be used as a packing in casks or other tight packages for shipment, especially as applied to eggs. Eggs, as thus packed, may be safely shipped any distance, and are effectually preserved from settling of the yolks, and the consequent spotting of the shells during transportation.

Another method of applying the material to such articles as eggs, fruit, and butter, is to impregnate therewith whole or cut straw, whole or cut hay, bran, ground cork, ground or crushed cobs, or the husks, stalks, or leaves of Indian-corn or other vegetable fibrous material, for use as a dry or wet packing. The packing material may be impregnated by boiling it in the fluid mixture for about an hour.

Butter may be inclosed in muslin bags preparatory to packing it; but hard fruits and eggs require no preliminary treatment.

When the articles are unpacked or taken 'out of the preserving fluid or packing, they should be placedin cold water and allowed to remain for about ten minutes, when they are ready for use.

Eggs and fruit may be kept in their natural state, by means of this material, for a number of years, and safely packed and transported in any climate.

The preservative is applied to wood byboiling the wood therein in tanks of wood or iron, or by steaming it, or by hydraulic pressure, or by atmospheric pressure in exhausted or condensed air cylinders, so as to fill or partially fill the pores or cells. When the wood is exposed to cold air, the preservative dries'in the pores or cells, and rendersthc wood weather and rot proof; also, petroleum-proof, so as to adaptitfor oil barrels and tanks. The wood thus treated is also less liable to swell, shrink, and warp, and absorbs less paint than ordinary wood. Wood thus treated is also rendered nearly fire-proof. The composition is especially useful for shingles for roofing, being so easily applied.

For rendering wooden paving-blocks weather and rot proof, petroleum-tar may be added to the composition in the proportion of a gallon of tar to. a pound of the powder. This mixture should be boiled one hour or less, and 3. Packing material impregnated with the is then ready for use. composition, substantially in the manner specified.

olmms' 4. A mixture of petroleum-tar for wood pav- The following is claimed as new, namely: ing-blocks, as described.

1. A preserving composition, termed Oar- JAMES CQNNELL, J R. bureted Aluinen, composed of ingredients and Witnesses: in proportions substantially as herein speci- COLUMBUS H. GREENE, fied, for the purposes set forth. Toronto, Canada.

2. An aqueous solution or mixture of said D. J. HORNER.

composition, as described. Toronto, Canada. 

